Scott Kelby's Photoshop Insiderhttp://scottkelby.com
Photoshop & Photography Techniques, News, Books, Reviews & MoreFri, 09 Dec 2016 14:54:09 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.6.1It’s a Lightroom Love Fest!http://scottkelby.com/lightroom-love-fest/
http://scottkelby.com/lightroom-love-fest/#commentsFri, 09 Dec 2016 14:54:09 +0000http://scottkelby.com/?p=44110Lot’s of Lightroom stuff to share with you today, but let’s start with Lightroom Magazine news! :) “Lightroom Magazine” has been “a magazine within a magazine” as its own section inside Photoshop User magazine (the official magazine publishing 10-times a year for KelbyOne members), but Lightroom has become such a big thing, that we felt it needed to be […]

]]>Lot’s of Lightroom stuff to share with you today, but let’s start with Lightroom Magazine news! :)

“Lightroom Magazine” has been “a magazine within a magazine” as its own section inside Photoshop User magazine (the official magazine publishing 10-times a year for KelbyOne members), but Lightroom has become such a big thing, that we felt it needed to be its own separate stand-alone magazine, and well…now it is!

This gives us the opportunity to expand our Lightroom coverage going forward (like adding new columns from Lightroom gurus Martin Evening, and Serge Ramelli), and to include photography related articles and features. Both of these magazines are created exclusively for KelbyOne members, if you are one, you’ll now receive both magazinse now as part of your membership (basically, you’ll be getting a new magazine, either Photoshop User or Lightroom Magazine, every few weeks).

Back Issues are here, too!
Also (this is huge!), we are putting an archive of the past year’s Lightroom Magazine on the KelbyOne member site, so you can easily access any issues you’ve missed. We’ve done the same for Photoshop User magazine back issues issues as well — we have back issues now available online going back to January of 2014. You’ll find these on the magazine link on your member dashboard (and if you’re not a member already, why the heck not? Here’s the link to join now!)

The new issue of Photoshop User is here!
You might have already caught my Holiday Gear Guide here on the blog, but there’s a TON of awesome stuff in the issue (available right now from your KelbyOne members dashboard).

Lightroom CC and Lightroom Mobile for IOS Updates
By now you’re probably heard about yesterday’s launch of new updates for Lightroom CC and Lightroom Mobile for IOS (with a whole new editing User Interface for the iPhone version -seen above), but if you missed any of that, I covered them both over at LightroomKillerTips.com

Sharpening and Noise Reduction in Lightroom Mobile
These were actually released in the last update, but now you can actually find them. Here’s the link to my article today about how to take advantage of these previously kinda hidden features.

Oh, but there’s more Lightroom love today….

What to learn something seriously awesome in Lightroom this weekend?
Pro retoucher Kristi Sherk’s new course on “Portrait Retouching in Lightroom” is getting such rave reviewers from our members — it’s a big hit! Watch the official trailer above, and then this weekend, make it point to catch her class. You will absolutely LOVE what you learn about Lightroom brushes in this class. Here’s the link to Kristi’s course.

Let’s wrap up with a tip on dealing with Clipping in Lightroom
This is a video tip (above) I did for my other blog, LightroomKillerTips.com (I post four-days a week there). The tip above is short, sweet, but shows you how to deal with something we have to deal with in our photography, and Lightroom makes it’s easy. :)

OK, that’s a lotta Lightroom Love for one day!
Hope you all have a fantastic weekend, full of Lightroom and eggnog, and we’ll catch ya next week. :)

]]>http://scottkelby.com/lightroom-love-fest/feed/1It’s New Class Thursday!http://scottkelby.com/new-class-thursday-23/
http://scottkelby.com/new-class-thursday-23/#commentsThu, 08 Dec 2016 16:54:49 +0000http://scottkelby.com/?p=44108Just One Flash with Scott Kelby You cannot believe all the stuff you can do with just one flash! Join Scott Kelby as he starts from scratch and covers everything you need to know to get the kind of images you’ve always dreamed of when using your flash. You’ve got to love your flash, and […]

Just One Flash with Scott Kelby
You cannot believe all the stuff you can do with just one flash! Join Scott Kelby as he starts from scratch and covers everything you need to know to get the kind of images you’ve always dreamed of when using your flash. You’ve got to love your flash, and in this class Scott shares all the things he’s learned over time to teach you the settings you’ll use, how to control your flash wirelessly, how to diffuse the light, and how to do it all without breaking the bank. This class contains three live shoots that demonstrate how to put all of these concepts and equipment to work for you, both indoors and out. Your flash is a great instrument, and with the right settings, the right accessories, and the right attitude you can fall in love. Keep an eye out for this class to be published today!

In Case You Missed It
Learn why the Canon 600EX-RT is a quantum leap forward in speedlite technology! Join Michael Corsentino, a portrait and fashion photographer based in Florida, as he takes a deep dive into the Canon 600EX-RT speedlite system. He’ll get you up and running with the key features and functions that will enable you to get the most out of this flash. In this class you’ll learn about the key buttons and dials, how and why to use the different exposure modes, the importance of shooting with the flash off the camera, how to take advantage of high speed sync, and so much more. All throughout the class Michael shares his insights, tips, and tricks to help you get the most out of your flash and enable you to create the images you’ve been dying to create.

]]>http://scottkelby.com/new-class-thursday-23/feed/1It’s Guest Blog Wednesday featuring Francesca Hughes!http://scottkelby.com/guest-blog-wednesday-featuring-francesca-hughes/
http://scottkelby.com/guest-blog-wednesday-featuring-francesca-hughes/#commentsWed, 07 Dec 2016 08:01:42 +0000http://scottkelby.com/?p=44104A massive hello from the UK and thank you to both Scott & Brad for allowing me to write this week’s guest blog. When thinking about the topic to write for this blog, I instantly wanted to write about the retouching industry. Having been working as a retoucher for nearly 5 years I’ve noticed that […]

A massive hello from the UK and thank you to both Scott & Brad for allowing me to write this week’s guest blog.

When thinking about the topic to write for this blog, I instantly wanted to write about the retouching industry. Having been working as a retoucher for nearly 5 years I’ve noticed that it isn’t talked about enough. Retouching is a very specialist field within the photography industry. Unless you are lucky enough to live in major cities like London or New York, the jobs are very few and far between. That’s why it’s important to understand and be absolutely committed to your decision to be a retoucher.

So what does it take to be a retoucher?

Know Your Software

This may be pretty obvious, but you must know Photoshop. 90% of major studios use Photoshop, and the other 10% use Lightroom. These may be smaller outlets or perhaps working for a freelance photographer. It’s good to know Lightroom, but the majority of the time you will be using Photoshop. Photoshop gives you more control and allows you to do a lot more to your images.

You may think, “Well I use Lightroom so I’ll be fine with that.” For your own photography that might be fine, but working in a studio environment may be a lot different. It also depends on what retouching industry you’re going into. If you want to work for a powerhouse who creates editorial and fashion content for a major brand, Photoshop is essential. If you work for a photographer who shoots weddings or family portraiture, they may only need minor tweaks made, which could be done in Lightroom.

If you’re thinking about going into retouching, it’s good practise to do your research and find what styles of images you enjoy, to determine what software is essential for you. However, I would always say learn Photoshop as much as you can.

Which follows on to my next quick point, learn Photoshop every single day. Be a sponge and take in as many courses, tips and tutorials as you can. [I would highly recommend KelbyOne for classes, and a cheeky plug to my own tutorials for quick Photoshop tips].

It’s always important to continually develop yourself and learn new things which can help your workflow and make things easier and more efficient for you. Learn from books, videos, magazines and even learn from your favourite Photographers and Retouchers. Be smart.

Be Proactive

Don’t let the work come to you. If you’re just starting out in your retouching journey, the best thing you can do is retouch your own images. Take photographs of everything; portraits, landscapes, architecture, food, products, sports, pets, anything. You’ll learn very quickly that some genres of photography require a lot more retouch but it will help you gain the experience and knowledge of what each images requires in terms of retouching. Portraits of models will take a lot longer than a shot of a pet for example. This not only will allow you to understand the tools but will help you figure out how long it’s taking you. I elaborate on time management further into this post.

If you don’t own a camera or you feel you don’t have the experience to take your own images, why not ask a fellow Photographer if you can borrow their images to retouch for your own personal use. You could even use forums like Model Mayhem where Photographers upload their own images for creatives to practice on for their own personal portfolio. It’s a great way of getting experience on professional images. Being proactive is an essential trait to have for a Retoucher.

Network and collaborate on creative projects. Find a Photographer to bounce ideas off and produce a project; something fun for the Photographer, something fun for you. They’ll be able to shoot the product or portrait and you can retouch the image. It’s a great way of building a portfolio with a set of images that involve your own ideas. Get yourself out there.

Patience is Essential

Using Photoshop can be super frustrating; you’ll run into issues you may not be able to figure out, or come across an image that’s going to need hours of work. So my next tip is have patience. Retouching can be a very long winded process, but, you’ll find that once you finish the image, you’ll feel very proud and happy with the end result. This is something that most retouchers love about retouching. Seeing the process from start to finish and knowing that they’ll have a wonderful piece of work at the end of it.

Patience is key when working with Photoshop. It may take several hours to complete one image, so it’s about getting through it and enjoying the journey. You may run into technical issues along the way, whether it’s something you can’t achieve or don’t know how to do. Retouching will give you problems that you have to solve.

You may ask yourself, “How am I going to achieve this?” Use your problem solving skills to figure out the easiest and most efficient way of resolving the issue. If you’re not sure, ask. There are plenty of people around the world who’ll be able to help you with your problem. Once you know how to solve it, you can use that same technique in the future. Eventually you’ll build up a toolbox of knowledge and be able to solve similar issues in the future.

Another great tip is to walk away. If you’re getting stuck with an image or you’ve spent too long on it, come away from it and return to it the following day. You’ll be surprised how much this can help. You’ll have a fresh look on the image and spot things you may have missed or figure out how to solve an issue. If you’re up against the clock, ask someone for feedback. With a fresh pair of eyes, they’ll be able to see any issues and you’ll be able to fix anything within enough time of your deadline.

Be Committed

Dedication is definitely needed when going into the retouching industry. Depending on the kinds of images you’ll be retouching, the industry can get quite monotonous. Especially if you’re working on the same shots day in day out. You have to be committed to the craft and really want it.

Be prepared for images that could potentially consume your time, especially if they take 2-3 hours. Being committed and persistent with the images will be very rewarding, especially when you see your finished pieces on the web or in print. Having the passion for retouching is essential if you want to succeed in the industry. If you get more and more retouching experience under your belt, the commitment will soon show.

Manage your Time

When you start in the retouching industry, you’ll soon figure out that managing your time is essential. You’ll find that some clients’ work will require a 10-minute clean up whilst others may require 2 hours retouch. It’s all about good time keeping and constantly watching the clock; especially when deadlines need to be met. Products and ecommerce, for example, can require anything from 2 to 10 mins per shot (depending on the specification and brief of the job). Portraits and high end fashion may require hours of attention, especially if they are being shot on high end cameras or they have been shot for print. Attention to detail is key here but it’s important to always remember your timings. Most studios are very fast paced, but you’ll pick up speed as you get used to their processes and practises.

Have fun.

By all means, this isn’t an extensive list of the skills and traits that a retoucher must have, but perhaps some of the most important to succeed in the industry. Don’t feel put off by these either; most traits can be learnt, especially the most important trait – learning Photoshop.

My last point, is to simply have fun. Whether you’re just starting out or are thinking of joining the retouching industry, always enjoy what you do. Whether it’s retouching a product shot for web or retouching a billboard for a major fashion label; do your best and enjoy every second.

]]>http://scottkelby.com/guest-blog-wednesday-featuring-francesca-hughes/feed/1It’s Here! My 11th Annual “Gonzo Holiday Gear Guide”http://scottkelby.com/11th-annual-gonzo-holiday-gear-guide/
http://scottkelby.com/11th-annual-gonzo-holiday-gear-guide/#commentsTue, 06 Dec 2016 14:31:18 +0000http://scottkelby.com/?p=44067Welcome to another magical collection of awesome gear that’s simply too gonzo to live without for another minute but, at the same time, will give you perfect gift ideas for the gonzo photographer on your Holiday Gift list. Before we get to the list, just remember: The holidays are about giving (who is giving you what, and […]

Welcome to another magical collection of awesome gear that’s simply too gonzo to live without for another minute but, at the same time, will give you perfect gift ideas for the gonzo photographer on your Holiday Gift list.

Before we get to the list, just remember: The holidays are about giving (who is giving you what, and how much, so you can post pictures of it on social media). So don’t be shy: Act like a millennial, even if you’re actually old enough to still be a fan of Roosevelt.

NOTE:You can download a PDF version of the gear guide (complete with links to stuff), right here. This is the full version with the layout that appears in the new issue of Photoshop User magazine.

As is my sacred Gonzo tradition, I’m breaking things into three distinct categories:

Stocking Stuffers: But you can use these as actual holiday gifts if you’re not that crazy about the person.

Great Value Gear: Stuff that’s a really good deal for the money, and even though it’s not a lot of money, they’ll still totally dig it.

Cha-ching! Stuff you buy for the surgeon/Wall Street banker/rap mogul on your Holiday gift list. This is the stuff that makes them burst into spontaneous tears of joy. Well, at least I would.

Okay, folks, hang on to any loose body parts; here we go!

STOCKING STUFFERS:

The ProMaster Clamper JuniorThis is a really clever, very sturdy mini-tripod, but what makes it unique is that it has a clamp built in to two of the legs, so you can clamp it on a railing. It’s small, lightweight, but tough.

Topaz Adjust (Photoshop and/or Lightroom Plug-in)
Probably Topaz’s most-popular plug-in (for Photoshop or Lightroom), it’s great for creating a wide range of special effects, and it comes with loads of presets, so all your holiday gift receiver has to do is click on presets until he sees one that looks good, and click OK. Of course, he can tweak away to his heart’s content, but by that time, he’ll already be basking in the glow of your generosity for getting this for him in the first place.

A Year of Backblaze Unlimited Backup
There’s more than a reasonable chance that the photographers on your gift list don’t have an offsite backup of their all-important image library, but don’t worry: You can get them one for just $5 a month for unlimited storage. The whole process is automated, and best of all, they can back up external drives. They’ll totally dig this, and one day, if catastrophe strikes and they need to retrieve all their images from this backup, they’ll never forget you! It could be, literally, the ultimate gift.

Westcott 30″ 1-Stop Diffuser
Put this diffuser between your subject and the sun, and you’ll turn that harsh nasty light into beautiful gorgeous light and it’s only $14.17, which is a crazy low price to pay for beautiful light. Plus, it’s collapsible and folds down to one- third its size, and the whole thing looks like it cost three times the price. It’s all good.

Some Cool Books
If they’re into sports, they’ll love You Will Never Get in the Game by Jimmy Cribbs (the story of Atlanta Falcon’s team photographer). Price: $34.95 (direct)

Or how about Photo Adventures for Kids by Anne-Laure Jacquart, which is a really great photo project book to get kids interested in learning about photography. Very well done! Price: $11.57 (from Amazon)

Paris by Serge Ramelli: (the city of romance in black and white) Price: $75.00 (from Amazon)

GREAT VALUE GEAR:Stuff that’s a really good deal for the money, and even though it’s not a lot of money, they’ll still totally dig it.

Westcott 26″ RapidBox Octa Softbox for Flash
These pop-up softboxes are just brilliantly designed: They open and close like an umbrella. This particular one is actually a pop-up beauty dish, and it’s awesome! I think it’s the best designed and most durable collapsible I’ve ever seen, and it fits in such a small, lightweight, soft-sided case that you won’t believe it could even fit. I would call this “ultra portable,” to say the least. Designed to work with your off-camera flash, it comes with a well-made hot-shoe bracket, so you’re ready to go in 60 seconds. I’m a big fan of these, and Westcott now also makes 10×24″ strip bank versions. (I have two of them!) They’re worth every penny.

Think Tank Photo TurnStyle 10 Sling Camera Bag
A friend turned me on to this small sling bag and I love it on a level you can’t imagine! I took it with me on my last photo trip, and now it’s my travel companion—perfect for carrying a couple of lenses and accessories. You carry it like a backpack, but then you swivel it around in front of you for easy access. So well designed, super-lightweight, and built like a Think Tank bag (amazing quality). They’ll love this.

Haida 150 Series Filter Holder System
If the photographer on your holiday list shoots landscape, architectural, or travel photography, they’ll love this filter system that lets you take long exposure shots in broad daylight. Really wonderfully designed and built. (I started using these this summer, and I was just so impressed.) And the price (especially for the quality) is really amazing—much lower than the competition’s—plus the case and overall presentation makes them look like you spent way more than you did. Make sure you know which type of lens your photographer friend uses, get the filter holder adapter ring set that fits their landscape lens, then pick up a Haida 150×150 ND 3.0 Optical Glass Filter, which is a 10-stop neutral density filter, to go in the bracket. You’ll feel much love when you give this gift!

Platypod Pro and Pro Max
This new model grew out of a huge Kickstarter campaign because photographers are either looking to put cameras where tripods aren’t allowed or into spaces that are too small or tight for a tripod; or they just want to shoot at really low angles. (I use one for shooting remotes at football games or weddings, where I can place it behind the altar.) The Platypod Pro Max is probably the best solution ever! Built with lightweight but crazy-strong commercial aircraft aluminum, this is such a clever design.

Lexar 128 GB JumpDrive C20i Lightning to USB 3.0 Cable with Built-in Flash Drive
Okay, that’s a boring name, but this is a really cool, handy device that does more than you might think. Not only can you transfer up to 128 GB of photos, either from your iPhone or iPad to your computer (or vice versa), it also actually acts as an iPhone or iPad charger. So small and lightweight, but backed with power!

Tether Tools Case Air Wireless Tethering System
Photographers have been dying for an inexpensive, reliable, easy way to shoot directly from their DSLR straight to an iPad or iPhone (also works for Android devices), and Tether Tools totally nailed that with their new Case Air Wireless Tethering System. You can even focus and fire your camera using their app (for iOS or Android). So easy to set up and use, and the price is right. Very cool stuff!

Battery Grip
This is one of those gifts that they’ll love you for forever because it’s so handy and it makes their camera look and feel more like a high-end pro camera, as it gives them a second battery holder and a shutter button for when they’re shooting vertical. The price starts at around $50 for a third-party grip, but if you buy a Nikon brand for a Nikon camera, or Canon brand for Canon, expect to pay at least 2–3 times as much, so give the Vello brand at B&H a serious look. You’ll be a holiday hero for this one!

Mpix Premium Panoramic Photo Books
I made my first one of these photo books earlier this year, and I have to say, they scream quality! The thickness of the pages just gives it such an expensive feel (but without an actual expensive price). Your giftees can design their books right on the Mpix site (it’s so simple to create a book; anyone can do it), and they’ll be amazed when their photo book arrives—just beautiful! Either gift them the ability to make one using their images, or make a book of your images and present it as a gift.

B&H Photo Gift Cards
Not sure exactly what to get your photographer friends? Yes you are. Get ’em a B&H Photo Gift Card. I don’t know anyone who doesn’t want something from the greatest photo store on earth, plus this way they can get whatever they want (within the limit of how much you put on the card, of course). You can order them direct from the B&H site, and they send a card and a catalog, so it looks pretty substantial.

Macphun Luminar (plug-in for Photoshop and/or Lightroom)
If you haven’t heard of it yet, it’s just because it’s brand new. I think this might be the perfect plug-in for people who are just getting into using plug-ins, because: (a) it has lots of presets; (b) it does tons of stuff; (c) it’s very easy to use; and (d) it’s super affordable at $69. It does everything from photo special effects to editing tasks (even editing RAW images); and again, its big strength is lots of presets that create good looks. It’s pretty full-featured photo-editing software on its own, so you’ll see stuff like Layers, Noise Reduction, Curves, and more, but I just use the special effects—of which there are plenty to keep your giftee busy. The downside is that it’s Mac only at this point, so make sure your photographer giftee uses a Mac.

3 Legged Thing Equinox Albert Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod and AirHed 360
This has become my go-to tripod for travel, because it really packs up small, it’s fairly lightweight, but sturdy as all get-out, and it comes with a really nice ballhead (and a nice ballhead alone can cost more than this entire rig, so that helps make it a great deal). They make an even smaller, lighter travel tripod called the “Leo,” if size and portability is #1 on your list; otherwise, I’d go with the Albert, even though it’s a little heavier, and a little bigger.

Phottix Mitros Flash (and Odin II Wireless Flash Transmitter)
If you want to get the photographer on your gift list a really good quality flash without spending $600, this is what I’d go with. They’re awesome quality flashes, but I have to say it’s the wireless transmitter—the Phottix Odin II Flash Trigger Transmitter, sold separately for around $199 and used for wirelessly controlling one or more flashes—that made me fall in love with this system. It’s like it was designed by a photographer (rather than an engineer). If you’ve seen me out on the road this year, these are the flashes I’ve been using.

CHA-CHING!Stuff that’s a really good deal for the money, and even though it’s not a lot of money, they’ll still totally dig it.

Impact Venture TTL 600W/s Battery-Powered Monolight Kit
The hot things in lighting right now are these studio strobes you can take on location and, instead of having a separate battery pack, the battery is built right into the light itself, so it’s just the light, on a stand, and that’s it—no cables whatsoever. Of course, the problem has been that they’ve been crazy expensive, which is why I like this Impact version so much: The light, a 32″ hex softbox, the wireless controller, and a spare battery are available as a kit from B&H Photo for just $1,249.95, which is a pretty screaming deal. It has built-in high-speed sync and LED modeling lights. And did I mention the price? It’s less than one-half the competitor’s. Sweet!

Canon EOS 5 Mark IV
If the Canon shooter on your holiday list is looking for a new camera body, the 5D Mark IV is perhaps the best all-around camera Canon has ever made. It’s a big upgrade over the industry workhorse Mark III, and just about every single aspect is improved or enhanced on this bad boy. It has more megapixels, better sensor, built-in wireless, built-in GPS, more frames per second, and I could go on and on, but the bottom line is this: It makes better images. If you buy them this body, they’ll follow you around like a puppy for the rest of their lives.

Elinchrom ELC Pro HD 500s Flash Head
Want something awesome for the studio photographer on your list? These new strobes from Elinchrom are the best I’ve used from them (and they’re known for their quality/value ratio). Great new design, but beyond that, it fires about as fast as you can shoot with virtually no recycling time between shots. And you can do stroboscopic, sequence, and delayed strobe effects easily—these modes are built in. Very consistent, well designed, and a lot of bang for the buck.

Canon EF 16–35mmf 2 8L III USM Lens
This 16–35mm range is one of my all-time favorites for a super-wide-angle lens, and Canon just released a new updated version of this classic lens that’s sharper than ever. If your photographer giftee shoots landscape, travel, architecture or football (I use it for my remote cameras), he’ll lose his mind if you get him one of these. This is the good stuff!

STUFF FROM USI’d be remiss if I didn’t at least make mention of some of the cool gifts we have over here at KelbyOne.

A One-Year KelbyOne Online Education membership
Wanna give them a gift that they’ll remember all year long? How about world-class, online training on everything from Photoshop to Lightroom to photography. It’s $199 for an entire year (with 24/7 access to literally thousands of lessons), or just $19.95 a month. Not only will they love you for it, so will I.

My “How Do I Do That In Photoshop?” and “How Do I Do That In Lightroom?” Book Bundle
I created these two books for people who are already at least somewhat familiar with Photoshop and/or Lightroom and they want reference books they can keep right at their desk, so when they ask themselves, “Isn’t there a way to do that in Lightroom or Photoshop?” they just turn right to the page in the respective book that describes just that one topic. These books have a been a huge hit with readers (the Lightroom book is already in its third printing), and you can get a deal from the publisher on the two-book bundle for only $30.00.

Treat them to the Photoshop World 2017 Conference in Orlando next April
Treat them to the Photoshop World Conference in Orlando Okay, do you want to totally blow them away to the extent that they need a spinal tap? Give them a full conference pass to the Photoshop World Conference in April in Orlando, Florida. It’s a three-day Photoshop, Lightroom, and photography love fest, and they’ll be talking about this gift, what they learned, and the overall experience, for years to come.

If you’re a KelbyOne member, if you buy it for them now, you get $100 off for being a member, and another $100 off with the Early Bird discount, so it’s just $599. (at http://photoshopworld.com)

For everybody else, it’s $699 (but if you buy it now, before the early-bird discount cut-off) it’s still $100 off). (at http://photoshopworld.com) ■

Well, there ya have it folks. Remember, it’s not how many gifts you get. It’s about how many gifts you get me! ;-)

]]>http://scottkelby.com/11th-annual-gonzo-holiday-gear-guide/feed/1Announcing My New “Photoshop CC Book for Digital Photographers”http://scottkelby.com/announcing-new-photoshop-cc-book-digital-photographers/
http://scottkelby.com/announcing-new-photoshop-cc-book-digital-photographers/#commentsMon, 05 Dec 2016 08:16:14 +0000http://scottkelby.com/?p=44064It’s been two years since the last major update to my bestselling Photoshop book, and since then, lots has changed — and not just new features in Photoshop CC (and there are plenty of them), but with how I do my Photoshop workflow today, so I went back and reworked the structure and design of the […]

]]>It’s been two years since the last major update to my bestselling Photoshop book, and since then, lots has changed — and not just new features in Photoshop CC (and there are plenty of them), but with how I do my Photoshop workflow today, so I went back and reworked the structure and design of the book to reflect how photographers are working today.

I take an update to this book very seriously, as it’s used in colleges and universities all over the world (it’s translated into many different languages) as their classroom text and curriculum. While it took longer than anticipated, it has to be right, and that’s why I am so excited about this new edition – I think it’s the best, most useful version of the book yet.

Here’s the trailer where I explain the book:

Amazon says it will be in stock on Dec. 22nd, but my sources are telling me it will actually be shipping by the end of next week (if not sooner), so if you want to get your copy first, now’s the time to order it.

]]>http://scottkelby.com/announcing-new-photoshop-cc-book-digital-photographers/feed/2Want to Get Really Good at Dog Photography? Watch This (it’s free!)http://scottkelby.com/want-get-really-good-dog-photography-watch-free/
http://scottkelby.com/want-get-really-good-dog-photography-watch-free/#commentsFri, 02 Dec 2016 08:16:52 +0000http://scottkelby.com/?p=44062My guest this week on “The Grid” was the most awesome dog photographer anywhere, Kaylee Greer (who, by the way, has the cover shot on the new National Geographic magazine “Nat Geo Wild“). On the episode (you can watch it above), she answers viewer’s questions; shares her techniques for dealing with hard to photograph dogs […]

My guest this week on “The Grid” was the most awesome dog photographer anywhere, Kaylee Greer (who, by the way, has the cover shot on the new National Geographic magazine “Nat Geo Wild“). On the episode (you can watch it above), she answers viewer’s questions; shares her techniques for dealing with hard to photograph dogs (and tougher to deal with dog owners), and well…she was just awesome. You will love it and learn a lot (she shares some great tricks, too!).

Kaylee is here at our studio filming another online course for KelbyOne that should be released in about four to six weeks. Her first class was such a huge hit, and she shared everything from lighting to post processing, but she’s got so much more to share, so we were out on location with her today filming her next class and we’re super psyched to be bringing more Kaylee your way.

Hope you all have a great weekend, and we’ll see you back here on Monday (well, I sure hope). :)

]]>http://scottkelby.com/want-get-really-good-dog-photography-watch-free/feed/3It’s New Class Thursday!http://scottkelby.com/new-class-thursday-22/
http://scottkelby.com/new-class-thursday-22/#commentsThu, 01 Dec 2016 14:45:20 +0000http://scottkelby.com/?p=44054Camera Essentials: Nikon D5 with Larry Becker Get the most out of your Nikon D5! Join Larry Becker as he walks you through the important things you’ll want to know about your new D5. This is not a class for seeing every menu option and obscure function, but instead Larry focuses on the things you […]

Camera Essentials: Nikon D5 with Larry BeckerGet the most out of your Nikon D5! Join Larry Becker as he walks you through the important things you’ll want to know about your new D5. This is not a class for seeing every menu option and obscure function, but instead Larry focuses on the things you need to know to get the camera to do what you want it to do, as if a good friend was showing you how. You’ll learn the basics of navigating the camera, how to access various shooting modes, where to find key settings, and along the way Larry shares a wealth of tips, recommendations, and insights to help you feel like a master user by the end of the class.

In Case You Missed It
Join Mia McCormick as she sits down with Stacy Pearsall and delves into topics that range from how Stacy got started in photography after joining the Air Force at age 17 to the obstacles she had to overcome as a female airman in combat situations, and from what it takes to make tough choices in chaotic situations to the process of transitioning to civilian life after being combat disabled and retired from military service. This interview kicks off our Trailblazer interview series on powerful women in photography; women who have the courage to tell stories about complicated issues, often under extreme and dangerous situations, and who are among the first female professionals to excel in their chosen discipline of photography.

]]>http://scottkelby.com/new-class-thursday-22/feed/2It’s Guest Blog Wednesday featuring John Brown!http://scottkelby.com/guest-blog-wednesday-featuring-john-brown/
http://scottkelby.com/guest-blog-wednesday-featuring-john-brown/#commentsWed, 30 Nov 2016 08:01:16 +0000http://scottkelby.com/?p=44038This is my story, and I’m grateful and excited to be sharing with you all. It isn’t the prettiest tale… but it’s real. So, my name is John Brown, and I’m a photographer in Nashville, Tennessee. I was born in Würzburg, Germany, and mostly grew up in Mons, Belgium until I was 8 years old. […]

This is my story, and I’m grateful and excited to be sharing with you all. It isn’t the prettiest tale… but it’s real. So, my name is John Brown, and I’m a photographer in Nashville, Tennessee.

I was born in Würzburg, Germany, and mostly grew up in Mons, Belgium until I was 8 years old. My father served 25 years in the US Army, so my brother and I were fortunate to have such a unique experience growing up. After my dad retired we moved to Shelbyville, Tennessee. Shelbyville is pretty small, and, at least when I was in high school, there wasn’t much art or music around, which is what I’ve always gravitated towards. I didn’t do very well in high school; I believe my GPA was 2.75 or somewhere close. Looking back it makes sense. There wasn’t any creativity, but when there was I thrived and put forth effort.

After I graduated high school (barely), I went to a small community college called Motlow State, located within a short drive of the Jack Daniel’s Distillery in Lynchburg, Tennessee. I believe I first majored in Mechanical Engineering because I wanted to build things, but I realized math was not one of my strengths. So I changed to Business Administration the next semester, and I realized math was not one of my strengths… again. My third semester I took a math class, and a guitar theory class, for a whopping total of 4 credit hours. I’m sure my parents were just stuck in a never ending eye roll at the point. But thankfully the next semester I finally took an art class… which completely changed my life.

The art professor was this incredibly talented, quirky, and underpaid genius. I remember him stressing the importance of composition over almost anything else. That really stuck with me. I finished out my 2 year associate degree in art, and transferred to MTSU nearby as an art/music double major, with no idea what I wanted to do afterward. I loved to draw, and play guitar, drums, and sing. But there still wasn’t really a niche standing out to me yet. At the same time, I was a 21 year old college kid that didn’t know anything about anything. Life was really good. I had just moved out on my own for the first time, and I was going to a big college with interesting classes and lots of new people (and girls) to interact with. Life was good. And then… it wasn’t.

Half way through my first semester at MTSU, in fall of 2007, my mom attempted suicide. At the time I thought it was my fault, because I was the youngest son and I had moved out. I wouldn’t learn till later that the truth was something much different. Basically my mom had a migraine for about a year straight, and was actively going to a couple of doctors about it. After some months of not figuring out the cause, they gradually put my mom on a dozen or so prescriptions. And all these drugs literally drove my mom crazy to the point that she tried to take her own life. I thank God every day for having parents that love each other like mine. My dad is the the reason my mom is still around. And just so you know, she’s doing very well now.

I flunked out of school and ended up moving back home. I got a job at a sweet woman’s gift shop down the street, who I’m certain took pity on me. I felt like a failure. I had no direction, no goals in mind, no idea what to do with my life. So of all things, my escape from this small town was truck driving. I became a full blown truck driver.

I traveled the country driving an 18-wheeler, hauling HAZMAT (hazardous material), steel, brake calipers, dry foods… basically anything you could imagine. I was only 22. It was super weird… but it was a much needed adventure, time to think, and a confidence boost. I saw a lot of things good and bad. I witnessed terrible accidents, drugs, sex trafficking, violence… it was an eye opening experience.

I drove full time for about 15 months and finally decided it wasn’t for me. I moved to Nashville two days later, and I was hired as a valet at a high end hotel downtown. Because, hey, “If I can drive a semi, I can park your damn Mercedes.” (Literally the cockiest thing I’ve ever said in my life… to the guy that hired me.) A few months after I’d started working there, luck brought me a camera from the lost and found. I had never used one before, but I just thought it was the coolest thing ever to play with. This was six years ago, and the camera was a Nikon D80.

So this is the part where I feel like most people would maybe gloss over things, or just skip parts because it’s not flattering, or that it’s career suicide to be this open… because what I’m about to share isn’t at all something I’m proud of… but I’m just going to be completely honest with you, because I think it’s important, so here we go. (I used way too many commas and I don’t care.)

I worked at this hotel for nearly 3 years, and I worked my a** off. And you know where it got me? Nowhere. I worked 60+ hours a week valeting, working third shift on Saturday nights, and also at one point shooting the photography and managing social media for this place. I was paying rent, but not making enough to save much. I also wasn’t feeling appreciated. At the same time I felt lots of pressure from family to start figuring out my future by either finding a career or going back to school. I needed to be responsible, and have a savings account, health insurance, 401k, a retirement plan, because I want to have a home and a family one day right?

I’m not quite sure when this started, but I developed an anger problem. I would lash out at people I was close to. Including my own brother, who’s the nicest guy I know. My boss. And at my worst, my own girlfriends. This went on for a few years. The height of which was when during an argument about something I don’t even remember… let’s just say it was something as dumb and trivial as the weather. Yes, during an argument about “the weather,” I shoved my girlfriend of one year, who I loved, on the floor in her own bedroom. I’d never done anything like that before. I instantly realized that this wasn’t because I was “hangry.” We had just had dinner together. This was something real. I stepped towards her to help her off the ground, and she jumped back with this expression of terror. She was literally afraid for her life, because of me. It’s something I will never forget. And as I write this all these years later, it still makes me feel emotional.

The next day I called my pastor and had coffee with him. He chewed me out in the most loving way possible, if that makes any sense at all. And he looked me in the eye and asked me if I’d consider counseling. I instantly remembered back to the time my mom was sick, and I thought it was my fault, and I wasn’t doing well. I’d lost weight, I couldn’t focus on anything, and I wasn’t taking care of myself. At the time I was covered under my parents’ with health insurance, but I didn’t want to bother my dad. I didn’t want to add to his problems. MTSU probably had a free clinic or some sort of resources available as well, but I was too embarrassed to speak about it to anyone on campus. So I got online and tried to find other resources. I remember calling this number and speaking with a very kind woman who had no options available without insurance, or an amount of money I couldn’t pay. She got emotional on the phone with me. I’ll never forget it. So when I heard the word, “counseling,” I just said “yes.” Because I realized I had needed counseling since 2007.

The next week I went to anger counseling with this awesome guy. One of the first things he said to me was that even though he was 50 something years old, he’d been thinking about taking a break from his current work and going to art school. Just because he wanted to. So needless to say we got along well. Over the next few weeks I learned a lot about myself. I realized how miserable I was, how unhealthy I was, how my anger was stemming from things that had nothing to do with anyone except myself. One big reason being that I’m this people loving, extroverted, creative person, but my life was not that at all. So gradually over the next few months, anger left my life for good.

(By the way if you’ve made it this far… I commend you and thank you for your patience. So now… I’ll just cut to the part that matters most.)

Photography grew into something more than a hobby. I quit the hotel and had a variety of jobs afterward, from selling cars to serving tables. Along the way I started pursuing photography more seriously, and ended up with a job at a documentary company. One amazing perk of working there was that I was able to shoot with their secondary camera, which was a 5D Mark II. I worked there for 10 months, and over that time I was able to make my first website, build up a portfolio, and start charging for my work. In August of 2014, I was at the office, and I found out that a very dear friend of mine had been murdered. She was 25 years old. And she had just hired me to make gesture drawings at her sister’s wedding.

A week after that a friend from high school died of cancer.

A month or so later, a family friend died of cancer.

By the end of 2015 I’d lost 10 people, friends and family, that I loved and cared about. Including my first cousin who was in her early 30’s, and my grandmother who was 85.

Around the time my cousin passed, I was no longer working at the documentary company. Which meant no more access to a 5D Mark II. Which meant no more camera because I’d given mine away. At my cousin’s funeral of all places, I was having a conversation with a family friend, whose brother was one of the 10 people I’d lost, asking him for business advice. He then offered me an opportunity I never would have imagined… a business loan.

I came to the realization that I could literally die any day. It could be tomorrow, or when I’m 85. I had just witnessed over the last year and a half how fragile life really was. So I accepted. With no client work ahead of me. No business plan. Fully accepting that I may very well have to sleep in my pickup truck with my camera, and I was completely okay with it. After two weeks of getting my gear, I went to Chicago for 22 days. I took the above photo while I was there, and it ended up going viral in the millions of shares and likes. You can find it on Alicia Keys’, Amy Schumer’s, and even Adriana Lima’s Instagram pages. Which is awesome and super random. (Alicia… let’s do lunch.)

It’s been a year and a half… and I’ve had three nights since May 27th, 2015 where I’ve nearly had to sleep in my truck. Even with such little financial stability at times, something always pops up, and I keep moving forward.

I have a personal project in the works. I’m learning and growing as an artist, and a person. And I’ve never been as happy as I am now. I work 80 hours a week so I don’t have to work 40. And honestly it’s the best decision I ever made. This has been quite the adventure, and it’s incredible to be doing something that makes my friends, family, and parents feel proud. It’s the best feeling in the world.

I’m sorry this has been long, and crazy, and not necessarily fun or flattering… but this is my life. If there’s anything I’d love to pass to you, it’s that life is fragile, short, and way too valuable to live miserably. I encourage you all to seek out things bigger than yourselves, to think of others when the opportunity arises, and not to wait for loved ones to pass before you realize what’s truly important. No matter who you are, no matter your religion, political views, identity, race, or nationality, we can grow every day, we can learn every day, and above all we can love every day. I hope you all are well, and I wish you the very best. Cheers.

]]>http://scottkelby.com/guest-blog-wednesday-featuring-john-brown/feed/3A Pretty Slick Lightroom Shallow Depth of Field Trickhttp://scottkelby.com/pretty-slick-lightroom-shallow-depth-field-trick/
http://scottkelby.com/pretty-slick-lightroom-shallow-depth-field-trick/#commentsTue, 29 Nov 2016 08:16:51 +0000http://scottkelby.com/?p=44036Howdy everybody. A few quick things to share with you (including a really slick Lightroom trick), but before we get to that stuff, just wanted to mention that in case you didn’t get to take advantage of our Black Friday/Cyber Monday deals, we’ve extended the deal for 24-hours. You have ’till midnight tonight and then they’re gone. […]

]]>Howdy everybody. A few quick things to share with you (including a really slick Lightroom trick), but before we get to that stuff, just wanted to mention that in case you didn’t get to take advantage of our Black Friday/Cyber Monday deals, we’ve extended the deal for 24-hours. You have ’till midnight tonight and then they’re gone. Here’s the link to take advantage of our best prices of the year.

(Note:it’s $50.oo off a KelbyOne one year membership and $300 off a Photoshop World 2017 Full Conference pass).

OK, onto my tip: I did this tip on Friday over at my other blog (lightroomkillertips.com), and I wanted to share it with you all here. It’s a quick, easy trick for creating a shallow depth-of-field effect right within Lightroom. It looks pretty good, and it’s super simple, and I even tossed in a couple of extra Lightroom tips, too! (check it out below):

OK guys — today, Cyber Monday, is your last chance to get our absolute best prices of the year on KelbyOne annual memberships, and Photoshop World 2017 Conference passes. Here’s the deals:

NOTE:These deals END TONIGHT at 12:00 am midnight ET

PROGRAMING NOTE:Today, starting at 10:00 am ET and running until 4:00 pm, at the top of every hour we’re doing a LIVE 10-minute screaming deal Webcast where we convinced one of our partners to offer an insane discount but just for 10-minutes (and ONLY 10-minutes). Some stuff is incredibly cheap. Some stuff (can’t tip the hats on which ones) are simply free (that’s right — they’re giving their product away for 10 minutes), but you’ve got to watch to get the code. Here’s the details:

Who: Join Larry Becker LIVE from our studiosWhat: Unbelievable Cyber Monday deals that only last 10-minutes TOTAL!Where:Here’s the linkWhen: Today starting at 10:00 am and at the top of every hour until 4pm.Why: Cause we always do something cool on Cyber Monday!

Of course, our deals are running all day today, too, so for goodness sake don’t forget about those!

OK, that’s the Cyber Monday scoop! The deals are here, but only for today!

We’d love to have you as a KelbyOne member (we have an incredible line-up of classes planned for 2017, and some seriously cool new things you will love as a member), and of course, we’d love to have you spend three-amazing day with us in Orlando next Spring at the conference.

Hope you have a great weekend, and we’ll see ya back here on Monday! :)

Best,

-Scott

P.S.On “Cyber Monday” we’ll be doing LIVE broadcasts EVERY HOUR ON THE HOUR with special “10-minute only screaming deals” we’ve specially arranged with our partners. These are CRAZY deals (including some who are actually making their products FREE but just for 10 minutes). Join Larry Becker on Monday (I’ll have all the details here on Monday, so start your day here).